North Korea conducts third nuclear test

posted at 8:01 am on February 12, 2013 by Ed Morrissey

It started out, as they all do, as a seismic event in the northern end of the Korean Peninsula. It didn’t take long for Pyongyang to confirm what everyone suspected — that North Korea had conducted a third nuclear-weapon test, apparently successful. The type tested has serious strategic implications, too:

North Korea on Tuesday conducted an underground explosion of what it called a “miniaturized” nuclear weapon, testing a technology that could theoretically be paired with a long-range missile to threaten the United States.

Pyongyang confirmed the test nearly three hours after unusual seismic activity was detected near the secretive police state’s mountainous test site. The test follows weeks of threats from the North to build up its nuclear capacity and carry out an “all-out action of high intensity.” …

The U.S. Geological Survey detected a 4.9-magnitude tremor at 11:58 a.m. local time in North Korea.

The test is the first under new North Korean leader Kim Jong Eun and the clearest sign that the third-generation leader, like his father and grandfather, prefers to confront the United States and its allies rather than make peace with them.

The UN had already called an emergency meeting of the Security Council to address the pending test. Afterward, even Pyongyang ally China publicly condemned the actions of Kim Jong-un’s regime:

North Korea conducted its third nuclear test on Tuesday in defiance of existing U.N. resolutions, drawing condemnation from around the world, including from its only major ally, China, which summoned the North Korean ambassador to protest.

The reclusive North said the test was an act of self-defense against “U.S. hostility” and threatened further, stronger steps if necessary. …

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said China was “strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposed” to the test and urged North Korea to “stop any rhetoric or acts that could worsen situations and return to the right course of dialogue and consultation as soon as possible”.

Consider the Kim regime unmoved by China’s scolding, probably because they know China won’t do anything more than waggle its finger at Pyongyang. North Korea issued a defiant threat of escalating actions after the test:

The test “was only the first response we took with maximum restraint”, an unnamed spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry, which acts as Pyongyang’s official voice to the outside world, said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency.

“If the United States continues to come out with hostility and complicates the situation, we will be forced to take stronger, second and third responses in consecutive steps.” …

North Korea told the U.N. disarmament forum in Geneva that it would never bow to resolutions on its nuclear program and that prospects were “gloomy” for the denuclearization of the divided Korean peninsula because of a “hostile” U.S. policy.

Stars and Stripes explains the significance of this particular test, outside of the bellicosity surrounding it:

North Korea carried out its third — and most powerful — nuclear test Tuesday, ratcheting up concerns about technological advancements by a renegade country that has said it wants to be able to strike at the United States.

Pyongyang said this bomb was also its smallest and lightest, a claim that experts will be trying to verify. They have said the country would need to make advancements in miniaturization in order to fit a bomb atop a long-range ballistic missile — the type of rocket that it successfully tested two months ago when it put a satellite into orbit.

So now the Kim regime is either very close to having ballistic nuclear capability or has achieved it. Their ballistic missile range includes Japan, and potentially Hawaii and Alaska, and perhaps the West Coast of the US. That is indeed a game changer, especially since it seems clear that Kim and his clique want a war, and so far even its one ally can’t dissuade them from provoking one.

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What are you trying to say? That our entire nation does not exist to be a support system for providing contraception for Sandra Fluke? There is a bunch of very stupid selfish women that would disagree with you.

South Korea will launch a pre-emptive strike against Pyongyang if the antagonist to its north moves to test a nuclear weapon. Seoul said a first strike would be preferable to North Korea getting an atomic weapon, even if it risked open war.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Jung Seung-jo said Seoul would take action even if it meant risking war with its northern neighbor. Pyongyang recently announced it will conduct a nuclear bomb test in the near future, raising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

General Seung-jo maintained it would be better to risk open war with Pyongyang than have it strike first. Describing a pre-emptive attack as a necessary defense tactic, he went on to say it was paramount that the North does not manage to develop a nuclear weapon.

“If [the North] shows a clear intent to use a nuclear weapon, it is better to get rid of it and go to war, rather than being attacked,” said the general, addressing the Joint Chiefs. He added that ”a pre-emptive attack against the North trying to use nuclear weapons does not require consultation with the United States and it is the right of self-defense.”

How many times has the Oval Office phone been replaced due to the ringer wearing out, seven, maybe eight times? Curious how the world has taken the measure of Dog Eater and now that phone just won’t stop ding-a-ling-a-linging.

I would be willing to bet that if these guys ever invaded another country their standing army would face a similar situation to what Germany faced in 1918’s Michael offensive. Where a starving army breaks out behind the lines and finds people fat and happy, suddenly they stop, eat and drink and the whole thing grinds to a halt.

How many times has the Oval Office phone been replaced due to the ringer wearing out, seven, maybe eight times? Curious how the world has taken the measure of Dog Eater and now that phone just won’t stop ding-a-ling-a-linging.

Bishop on February 12, 2013 at 8:21 AM

The rat-eared wonder would actually have to be in the Oval Office to answer the phone. What with all the golfing, partying, schmoozing with celebs, and fundraising any calls to the Oval Office go straight to voicemail. Or they would if the box wasn’t full.

President Barack Obama signs executive order calling for dismantling of all ground-based boost-phase interceptors and destruction of military satellite based tracking systems. He went on to say this bold move will demonstrate to our friends in North Korea that we mean them no harm. John Kerry said “These actions by President Obama will end the threat from North Korea, I guarantee it”.

Non-snark: This has the potential to get very ugly for the Koreans. You have a new leader in the North, eager to make a name for himself, a disinterested United States, a neutered UN and a pre-emptive South.

I seem to remember way back when George W. Bush named Iraq, Iran and North Korea as the axis of evil. The MSM scoffed at the inclusion of North Korea. My guess is that Iran will be buying North Korea’s nukes……………………Frankly, I think we need to test some of our nukes on North Korea.

Non-snark: This has the potential to get very ugly for the Koreans. You have a new leader in the North, eager to make a name for himself, a disinterested United States, a neutered UN and a pre-emptive South.

The perfect storm.

Washington Nearsider on February 12, 2013 at 8:32 AM

I’m sure Obama and Kerry can cut a deal: tons of free food in exchange for a pinky swear the Norks won’t fire off any more nukes or test any more missiles.

North Korea on Tuesday conducted an underground explosion of what it called a “miniaturized” nuclear weapon, testing a technology that could theoretically be paired with a long-range missileany person crossing Rio Grande to threaten the United States.

OK, China are you happy that the nutcase nation of North Korea, that you gave birth, has grown up weapons? China needs middle eastern oil perhaps more than any other nation on Earth. If North Korea sells these weapons to Iran, China can say goodbye to access to middle eastern oil if war breaks out in the middle east. Such a war would be a disaster to the world economy.

OK, China are you happy that the nutcase nation of North Korea, that you gave birth, has grown up weapons? China needs middle eastern oil perhaps more than any other nation on Earth. If North Korea sells these weapons to Iran, China can say goodbye to access to middle eastern oil if war breaks out in the middle east. Such a war would be a disaster to the world economy.

SC.Charlie on February 12, 2013 at 8:50 AM

Why do you think the ChiComs are so busy making claims in the entirety of the Southern Resource Ar…er, South China Sea?

The first appearance of the Taep’ o-dong in its raw form was in February 1994 as two-stage rocket, with a range of 3,670-3,750 Km and payload of 700-1,000 Kg. The United States officially recognised the existence of this rocket, and of the North Korean programme, on a presentation made by the Vice-President of the Missile Defence Agency of the Pentagon, Army Brigadier-General Patrick O’Reilly at the George C. Marshall Institute.

It was unveiled the new Taep’ o-dong-2C/3, a two-stages rocket, with a potential range of 9,975.8 km, and a three-stage version with a potential range of 14,963.7 Km and a payload of 250 Kg.

Lets hope that the miniaturized weapon is significantly larger than 250kg. That range of 14,963.7 Km would allow them to strike anywhere inside the United States.

*This is based on the 1st, 2nd. & 3rd. generation nuclear warheads of Pakistan.

The 2004 version of the Taep’o-Dong-2 is believed to have a throw weight of 550kg. This would potentially place it in a category capable of launching a 3rd. Generation weapon, and certainly the fourth Generation which may just have been tested.

If they can put a nuclear weapon in Atlanta or New York then that limits what the US can do if they attack South Korea with chemical, biological or perhaps even a nuclear EMP burst over the south. Would the US respond with a nuclear strike in such an event if New York City was the price for doing so? Would Japan allow US forces to stage from their country under those circumstances?

I very much doubt North Korea will use whatever they tested, assuming they have the means to deliver it. That regime is all about preservation, and they’re not going to launch an attack on anyone knowing the response. They use these “provocative acts” as bargaining chips, as well as to get attention. It wouldn’t surprise me if we learn in a few months of new rounds of talks involving the DPRK, where they pledge (fingers firmly crossed behind their back, natch) to not conduct any more tests in exchange for food and other aid. That’s how they operate.

Saw this before turning in last evening. This is a problem. My fear is 0’s FP will be off the mark as usual. Should the North decide a launch onto American soil or any other soil for that matter. What would be the correct response? China hath best reel this young buck in.

No more food to NK. They have used the Nuke blackmail to it’s fullest. Now a diminishing return.
The only way they can continue with it is to threaten the actual USE of a nuke. There is no way the world would allow that.
It would be the end of NK.

I very much doubt North Korea will use whatever they tested, assuming they have the means to deliver it.

changer1701 on February 12, 2013 at 9:21 AM

Global war has occurred by making such assumptions.

You can’t look at a country like North Korea and assume that they won’t do anything because it is in their best interests not to provoke China, Japan, or the United States. That is applying rationality to an irrational regime. I’m not saying that we need to park a bunch of SSBNs off the North Korean coast but we can’t discount this threat as unlikely either.

You prepare for the worst case scenerio and that would be a nuclear attack. Seriously, I’m sure the leadership has some secure bunker to hole up in and what really could a retalitory strike do but kill civilians? What does Kim Jong Eun have to lose by launching a nuclear missile on one of his enemies?

What does Kim Jong Eun have to lose by launching a nuclear missile on one of his enemies?

Happy Nomad on February 12, 2013 at 9:44 AM

What does he have to GAIN? His entire nation will be flattened, and any demands he made will be utterly pointless.

The real danger is NK supplying nukes to nations that are NOT isolated, like say Iran or Egypt. We can contain NK, push comes to shove we can station dedicated anti-missile units in SK. We cannot contain the entire frigging Middle East.

1) Who says a N. Korea missile launch has to be landbased? Why not freighter based?

2) Who says a N. Korea missile has to be launched by N. Koreans? Iran would love Love LOVE to have a missile that would easily reach from inside Iranian border to Tel Aviv. “Let’s make a deal!” says Machmoud ImADinnerJacket to Kim.

The Norks are in a good place to launch a High Altitude EMP strike against us.ONE nuke 200-300 miles over say, St. Louis, sends an electro-magnetic pulse that kills no one directly (except maybe people with pacemakers and other life-sustaining equipment) but instantly plunges most of North America into darkness.
This is a math problem – launch angle, direction, timing, boom (make that a noiseless ‘boom’) – not rocket surgery.

The entire US electrical grid would be incapacitated for YEARS.
Cars, trucks, trains, many aircraft – all immobilized and worthless.
No way to pump water, fuel, no refrigeration, no communications, TV, computers etc etc etc – we would essentially be living in 1840 without the life skills needed.

The military and Gubmint would be insulated thanks to “hardened” electrical systems.
Barky could still fly to Hawai’i for vacation with Big Mo’.
But there would be no attack on our soil, so how would we respond?

Lets hope that the miniaturized weapon is significantly larger than 250kg. That range of 14,963.7 Km would allow them to strike anywhere inside the United States.
sharrukin on February 12, 2013 at 8:55 AM and at 9:14AM

If one takes a path of suicidal simplicity in fabricating a nuclear weapon you neglect (highly technical and wise) items like Safe &Arm mechanism. Folks at SDNL (el al) have been working this for almost 70 years, to amazing levels ~10^10 reliability. Fundamentals of design and function are paramount. If it ain’t supposed to go ‘boom’ it had better not go ‘boom’ and if it is suppose to go ‘Boom’ it had damn well go of at the exact moment it is programmed. They are after all totally unforgiving to their surroundings.
However, if you don’t give a crap and economy is of the essence (Kim Un) one could fabricate a multi-kiloton yield device in under 250 Kg. Easy. Think steamer trunk.

I wonder how King Putt The Dunce will address this in his SOTU tonight? Must make his speach writers mad. After spending so much time in the wording of how He intends to ‘reduce and eliminate nuclear weapons from our inventory’ Only to have little Kim crap in His mess kit.
I’d bet he’ll swing and miss it completely.

However, if you don’t give a crap and economy is of the essence (Kim Un) one could fabricate a multi-kiloton yield device in under 250 Kg. Easy. Think steamer trunk.

That is one of the things that should worry us. An EMP weapon could be used as a threat to ward off US intervention in a Second Korean War.

I wonder how King Putt The Dunce will address this in his SOTU tonight? Must make his speach writers mad. After spending so much time in the wording of how He intends to ‘reduce and eliminate nuclear weapons from our inventory’ Only to have little Kim crap in His mess kit.
I’d bet he’ll swing and miss it completely.

Missilengr on February 12, 2013 at 11:36 AM

He will probably mention it in passing with a condemnation and then forget about it.

Someone needs to tell Kimmie baby that if he ever uses one of those firecrackers, he’d better have a very deep hole to hide in because everything else will be gone!

Boats48 on February 12, 2013 at 12:59 PM

I think he’s more into marketing and selling his products abroad than in using them himself.

The primary domestic use is deterrence from attack.

Any aggression NK launches against neighbors will be using conventional weapons or terrorism. Having nukes better enables NK, and players like Iran — in fact especially Iran, to bully their neighbors with their conventional weapons/military and with covert operations such as terrorism.

One more thing. Having nukes better enables NK to engage in nuclear blackmail for gain. They pretend to scale back their program in return for free goodies from suckers like the US. They never do, of course, but they make it look like they did for a year or so. Then rinse and repeat.

One more thing. Having nukes better enables NK to engage in nuclear blackmail for gain. They pretend to scale back their program in return for free goodies from suckers like the US. They never do, of course, but they make it look like they did for a year or so. Then rinse and repeat. – farsighted on February 12, 2013 at 1:41 PM

I think that for South Korea, Japan and even the United States this is the last straw. South Korea and Japan might just go nuclear. Even China might be or should be having second thoughts about allowing a nuclear armed North Korea.

Suggest we take down some of our Moscow-bound missiles, as a gesture of good-will to Putin and our Russian allies, and transport them with a routine stop-over in South Korea where, while pointing them at NK and Beijing, we study the tricky technical issue of decommissioning them … over the next 10 years.

I think that for South Korea, Japan and even the United States this is the last straw. South Korea and Japan might just go nuclear. Even China might be or should be having second thoughts about allowing a nuclear armed North Korea.

SC.Charlie on February 12, 2013 at 3:22 PM

China is backing the crazy little runts as a back-alley method of arming Iran and others with nukes, which they will undoubtedly start selling outright if not parts and schematics. As pointed out elsewhere, that’s why we haven’t attacked NK, because they’re China’s version of Cuba.

Also, China not only makes most of our stuff but unlike Iraq or Afghanistan would put up a real fight on the conventional front.